Boxing Day sales cheat sheet

Boxing Day sales can be stressful, with so many items you want to buy and such a limited time to get the right deal. Then you have to take travel, finding a car spot and all the ques into account. It makes you think to yourself, “Is it all worth it?”.

A lot of us look forward to the Boxing Day sales all year. Hoping that we’ll be able to snap up a great deal on a TV, phone or piece of furniture. There are always deals to be had throughout the largest sales day of the year, you just need to know where to look and how to prepare.

Here’s a ‘cheat sheet’ to help you get the most from your Boxing Day sales:

Make a list and do your research

Think about the items you’ve wanted all year, write them all down and think about what you really want. Look up all the leading retailers and who has the best savings. Facebook pages and Twitter feeds of your favourite brands and stores are a great way to find out about deals and promotions.

If you spot a great deal at a store, take a look at the competition via your mobile. Stores often have loyalty programs that offer sales and promotions to their members first, then let them earn rewards on what they buy.

Check if the products you want are in stock or are available online/in store.

Budget

It’s easy to forget that the sales come around every year and yet we still make the mistake of overspending. The sales are designed to get you to the store and have you buying up big. It’s easy to get swept away on a spending spree and feel that retail high. Have a maximum dollar figure in mind and make sure you stick to it or try your best not to be tempted into buying too much. If you find that you’re too free with your credit cards, try taking cash with you or setting a credit limit.

Check store policies

It’s always good to know a store’s price match and return policies. We expect more retailers to price match specific in store deals this year. Almost all of the major retailers have some form of price match policy and they’ve been expanding almost every year. But some stores might suspend their price match guarantees during the Boxing Day sales on certain items, so read the fine print. Check the return and exchange policies for Boxing Day sales to make sure that the store won’t charge a restocking fee for any item you bring back.

Plan and shop

You’ve made your list and budgeted for what you can afford. It’s now time to get shopping! Plan out where to find the items you’re looking for and if the item is still available. Try to get in early and get a map of the shops so you know exactly where to head so you don’t miss out. Be sure to pack your lunch, drinks and wear comfy shoes because it can be a long day of walking around to find what you’re after.

Want to avoid public transport and drive to the sales? Here are a few shopping centres with parking in your area:

Adelaide

Central Plaza

100 Rundle Mall

Boxing Day trading hours: 9am – 5pm

Myer Centre

14-38 Rundle Mall

Boxing Day trading hours: 11am – 5pm

Brisbane

The Myer Centre

91 Queen St

Boxing Day trading hours: 9am – 6pm

Queens Plaza

210 Queen St

Boxing Day trading hours: 9am – 6pm

Canberra

Canberra Centre

260-262 Alinga St

Boxing Day trading hours: 8am – 7pm

Gold Coast

Australia Fair

42 Marine Pde, Southport

Boxing Day trading hours: 9am – 5:30pm

Robina Town Centre

Robina Town Centre Dr, Robina

Boxing Day trading hours: 9am – 6pm

Melbourne

High Point

120-200 Rosamond Road, Maribyrnong

Boxing Day trading hours: 7am – 11pm

Melbourne Central

Cnr LaTrobe and Swanston Streets

Boxing Day trading hours: 8am – 10pm

Newcastle

Charlestown Square

30 Pearson St, Charlestown

Boxing Day trading hours: 8am – 6pm

Westfield Kotara

Northcott Dr and Park Ave, Kortara

Boxing Day trading hours: 8am – 6pm

Perth

Forest Chase

200 Murray St

Boxing Day trading hours: 8am – 6pm

Westfield Carousel

1382 Albany Hwy, Cannington

Boxing Day trading hours: 8am – 6pm

Sydney

Chatswood Chase

91 Archer Street, Chatswood

Boxing Day trading hours: 7am – 10pm

Castle Hill Towers

6 – 14 Castle Street, Castle Hill

Macquarie Centre

Herring and Waterloo Rds, North Ryde

Boxing Day trading hours: 8am – 6pm

If you miss out on the sales, don’t stress because you’re bound to find a great deal on Gumtree at any time of the year. Sell those unwanted gifts from Christmas and buy something you want on Gumtree.